A BRIEF HISTORY

Erie is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie. Indigenous peoples occupied the shoreline and bluffs in this area for thousands of years, taking advantage of the rich resources found both on land and in water. The Iroquoian-speaking Erie Nation occupied this area before being defeated by the five nations of the Iroquois Confederacy in the 17th century during the Beaver Wars. The Erie area then became controlled by the Seneca, "keeper of the western door" of the Iroquois.

Europeans first arrived as settlers in the region when the French constructed Fort Presque Isle near present-day Erie in 1753, as part of their effort to defend New France against the encroaching British colonists. The name of the fort refers to the peninsula that juts into Lake Erie, now protected as Presque Isle State Park. The French term "presque-isle" means peninsula, or "almost an island". The French abandoned the fort in 1760 during the French and Indian War. The British established a garrison at the fort that same year.

Early European settlers migrated to Erie during the 19th and 20th century from Italy, Ireland, Germany, Poland, and Russia. Many worked as shipbuilders, fisherman, or builders of the railroad. Since the mid-1990s, the city's demographics have become more diverse as a result of the International Institute of Erie serving as a resettlement agency for refugees. Refugees from Bosnia Ghana, Liberia, Nepal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Bhutan now represent significant population numbers in Erie. 

Erie is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania and it is located halfway between the cities of Buffalo, New York and Cleveland, Ohio, while also being located due north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Additionally, Erie is located halfway between the cities of Chicago, Illinois and New York, New York. Erie has a predominant manufacturing sector.  While it has reduced in size in past decades, it still remains prominent in the local economy. Health care, higher education, technology, creative industries, service industries, and tourism are emerging as significant economic drivers. 

Lake Erie plays an important role in Erie's identity. Erie is known as both the "Flagship City," because of its status as the home port of Oliver Hazard Perry's US Brig Niagara, and the "Gem City," because of the sparkling lake.

16501

The 16501 ZIP code encompasses Erie's Downtown and a portion of the industrial corridor. 

Population Demographics

• White = 1,282
• Black = 558
• American Indian or Alaskan Native = 0
• Asian = 48
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander = 0
• Hispanic or Latinx = 78
• Other Race = 21
• Two or More Races = 89

• <20 = 7.4%
• 20s = 18.1%
• 30s = 7.3%
• 40s = 8.5%
• 50s = 23.2%
• 60s = 14.7%
• 70+ = 21%

Foreign born residents are from the following countries. 

• India = 60%
• Saudi Arabia = 18.8%
• Italy = 10%
• Ukraine = 8.8%
• Nicaragua = 2.5%

Real Restate and Housing

The total number of housing units in the 16501 ZIP code is 1,515, with very few single-family units. Approximately 99% of units in the 16501 ZIP code are renter occupied. The median rental in the 16501 ZIP code is $388. 

16502

The neighborhoods encompassed in the 16502 ZIP code comprise Erie's Westside. 

Population by Race/Ethnicity

• White = 11,800
• Black = 1,960
• American Indian or Alaskan Native = 155
• Asian = 422
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander = 18
• Hispanic or Latinx = 1,303
• Other Race = 504
• Two or More Races = 632

Population by Age

• <20 = 22.6%
• 20s = 20.7%
• 30s = 14.3%
• 40s = 10.2%
• 50s = 13.5%
• 60s = 10.1%
• 70+ = 8.7%

Foreign born residents are from the following countries. ​

• Other South Central Asia = 12.9%
• El Salvador = 12.4%
• Bosnia and Herzegovina = 9.6%
• Dominican Republic = 7.7%
• Ethiopia = 5.5%
• China (excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan) = 4.9%
• Ukraine = 4.8%
• Malaysia = 4.4%
• Canada = 3.8%
• Germany = 3.6%
• Saudi Arabia = 3.4%
• India = 3.3%
• Nepal = 3.2%
• Korea = 2.5%
• Honduras = 2.5%
• Philippines = 2.4%
• Egypt = 2%
• Sudan = 2%
• Pakistan = 1.8%
• Russia = 1.7%
• Hungary = 1.7%
• Other Western Asia = 1.4%
• Venezuela = 1.3%
• Israel = 0.9%
• Argentina = 0.8%
• Jamaica = 0.6%
• France = 0.6%

Real Restate and Housing

The total number of housing units in the 16502 ZIP code is 7,942. Approximately 60% of units in the 16502 ZIP code are renter occupied. The median home value in the 16502 ZIP code is $72,300. The median rental in the 16502 ZIP code is $682.  The 16502 ZIP code could be an area to look for cheap housing compared to surrounding areas. 

16503

The neighborhoods encompassed in the 16503 ZIP code comprise Erie's Eastside. 

Population by Race/Ethnicity

• White = 9,129
• Black = 5,146
• American Indian or Alaskan Native = 76
• Asian = 746
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander = 0
• Hispanic or Latinx = 2,583
• Other Race = 439
• Two or More Races = 1,423

Population by Age

• <20 = 33.8%
• 20s = 18.2%
• 30s = 13.5%
• 40s = 12.2%
• 50s = 11%
• 60s = 6%
• 70+ = 5.3%

Foreign born residents are from the following countries. ​​

• Other South Central Asia = 15.6%
• Nepal = 12%
• Mexico = 10.7%
• Iraq = 10.5%
• Ukraine = 9.7%
• Cameroon = 5.7%
• Bosnia and Herzegovina = 4.5%
• Syria = 4.4%
• Guatemala = 2.9%
• Sudan = 2.3%
• Egypt = 2.3%
• Afghanistan = 2%
• Pakistan = 2%
• China (Excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan) = 1.9%
• Burma = 1.9%
• Saudi Arabia = 1.4%
• Belize = 1.2%
• Eritrea = 1.1%
• Ethiopia = 1.1%
• Jordan = 0.7%
• Germany = 0.7%
• Vietnam = 0.7%
• Philippines = 0.6%
• Liberia = 0.6%
• Ghana = 0.5%
• Moldova = 0.3%
• Poland = 0.3%
• Croatia = 0.3%
• Other Western Asia = 0.3%
• Thailand = 0.3%
• Malaysia = 0.3%
• France = 0.2%
• Dominica = 0.1%

Real Restate and Housing

The total number of housing units in the 16503 ZIP code is 7,189. Approximately 67% of units in the 16503 ZIP code are renter occupied. The median home value in the 16503 ZIP code is $52,100. The median rental in the 16503 ZIP code is $634.  The 16503 ZIP code could be an area to look for cheap housing compared to surrounding areas. 

16507

The neighborhoods encompassed by the 16507 ZIP code comprise Erie's east and west Bayfront. 

Population by Race/Ethnicity

• White = 6,620
• Black = 2,350
• American Indian or Alaskan Native = 11
• Asian = 254
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander = 3
• Hispanic or Latinx = 692
• Other Race = 190
• Two or More Races = 130

Population by Age

• <20 = 27.4%
• 20s = 20%
• 30s = 11.4%
• 40s = 10.4%
• 50s = 14.2%
• 60s = 8.5%
• 70+ = 8%

Foreign born residents are from the following countries. ​​​

• Other South Central Asia = 26%
• India = 8.3%
• Vietnam = 7.8%
• Egypt = 7%
• Germany = 6.4%
• Nepal = 5.2%
• Liberia = 4.5%
• China (excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan) = 4.1%
• Jamaica = 4%
• Sudan = 3.9%
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines = 3.7%
• Cuba = 3.6%
• Other Northern Africa = 3.1%
• Other Eastern Africa = 2.7%
• England = 2.6%
• Kuwait = 1.6%
• Russia = 1.5%
• Turkey = 1.5%
• Greece = 1.4%
• Canada = 1.1%
• Dominican Republic = 1.1%
• Romania = 1.1%
• Mexico = 1%
• Poland = 1%
• Honduras = 0.9%
• Latvia = 0.7%
• Oceania-n.e.c. = 0.4%
• Bahamas = 0.4%
• Other Eastern Europe = 0.2%

Real Restate and Housing

The total number of housing units in the 16507 ZIP code is 4,482. Approximately 68% of units in the 16507 ZIP code are renter occupied. The median home value in the 16507 ZIP code is $63,100. The median rental in the 16507 ZIP code is $701.  The 16507 ZIP code could be an area to look for cheap housing compared to surrounding areas.